Beth Tatum

Services for Beth Tatum, age 88, of Hideaway, are scheduled for 11:00 AM Saturday, June 18, 2016 at the Caudle-Rutledge-Daugherty Funeral Home in Lindale with Rev. James Cheatham officiating. Burial is scheduled for 11:00 AM Monday, June 20, 2016 at the Oakwood Cemetery in Corsicana, Texas with Dr. Danny P. Reeves officiating. Beth was born March 18, 1928 in a rural community near Corsicana, Texas and named Mary Elizabeth by her parents, Johnnie Clayton Freeman and Mary Jane Jones Freeman. Beth graduated from Emhouse High School (near Corsicana) in 1945 with special recognition in English grammar and was awarded the “All-Around Girl” medal. After graduating high school, the accounting and management classes she took at Hill College in Hillsboro and later continuing-education classes held her in good stead for a long and successful business career. She retired from the corporate accounting department of Dresser Industries, Inc. (now absorbed by Halliburton) in Dallas after 24 years of dedicated service. She was proud to have worked for a company whose philosophy and business practices she could respect. Beth was married to Joe Loden from 1947 until his death in 1972. They had two children, Joe David and Sandra. Through her 1977 marriage to Austin Tatum, Beth gained two stepdaughters, Janis Scroggins and Barbara Dougher. Austin died in 2000. Austin and Beth moved to what then was known as Hide-A-Way Club upon his retirement in 1985. Beth was active in golf – having been a founding member of the Ladies’ Golf Association (LGA) – and the Fishing Club. She also loved to read and play Mah Jongg. Most of all, she cherished the many deep friendships forged through her active life. She was a member of Hideaway’s board of directors from 2002 to 2006, during which time a new clubhouse and office building were constructed, and major improvements were made to the golf course. A woman who “marched to the beat of her own drummer,” Beth always stood up for what was right and fair – and thus, she rather unwittingly became a trailblazer for women’s equal rights in the workplace and on the golf course. In addition to her husbands and parents, Beth was preceded by her son, Joe David; brothers, John, Monte and Don Freeman; sisters-in-law, Lois Freeman and Peggy Freeman; and nephew, Hal Freeman. Beth is survived by her daughter, Sandra Loden-Hunt and son-in-law, Tony Hunt of Los Angeles; sister, Janie Wilson and husband, Lonnie; sister-in-law, June Freeman; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; as well as Austin’s daughters and their families. The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Friday, June17, 2016 at the Caudle-Rutledge-Daugherty Funeral Home.

Beth Tatum

March 18, 1928 - June 8, 2016